Agribusiness salaries rise faster than CPI

Salaries in agribusiness rose at double the rate of inflation last financial year.

Statistics collected during a survey of 83 agribusiness leaders has found the salaries they've been paying went up an average of 5.75 per cent while the Consumer Price Index was 2.5 per cent.

Mick Hay, from Rimfire Resources, did the study.

"It's coming off a low base, so we've got to keep it in perspective, but I also think that there's been a drain of skill and talent out of agribusiness.

"We went through prolonged periods of hardship and drought, so we had lower numbers of people coming through the universities.

"So I think for companies looking to attract highly-skilled people that fit into specific business environments in some of those regional and rural centres, it's difficult and they're having to pay accordingly."

Mr Hay says technical roles and sales positions are the hardest for companies to fill.

The study also found staff turnover rates are low within agribusiness, with more than 60 per cent of organisations having rates below 10 per cent, and 50 per cent expected to increase their workforce in the next 12 months.